More Information

About the group
Newtown United plans to unveil its efforts as an official nonprofit organization.
The group intends to honor and be advocates for the families of victims and survivors of the Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Newtown United now has a Facebook page.

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NEWTOWN -- Five Newtown men deeply affected by the Dec. 14 killing of 20 first-graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School were moved to help the community cope with the tragedy.

These men, one a former Legislative Council member, forged a grassroots organization called "Newtown United." They posted word of the group on Facebook, and hosted two forums at the Cyrenius H. Booth Public Library the weekend after the shooting, and about 70 people voiced their emotions with the hope they could then funnel that energy into action.

The forums were well attended, but the next step was a bit uncertain.

U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., attended the forums and pledged their support. They said gun-control legislation will be at the top of their agendas; other local politicians have made similar promises.

Newtown United's founders and supporters wanted to determine the best way to make a difference "for the families'' without being perceived as a politically motivated entity.

So the group took a step back and retooled its initial mission: to assure the families of the victims' are honored, given time to grieve and heal, and that they dictate future advocacy efforts.

Founder Rob Cox said the group's focus has been on connecting with the families so that "anything we do reflects what they want us to do.''

The group was instrumental in bringing former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, of Arizona, to Newtown on Friday for a private meeting with the victims' families. Giffords was shot in the head on Jan. 8, 2011, during a meeting with her constituents at a shopping center near Tucson.

Though gun control legislation seems to be at the forefront of conversations, Newtown United's intends to be more than a one-issue advocate, Cox said.

The nonpartisan organization's "fervent hope'' is that families of the victims and survivors, and all those personally affected by the tragedy, have a national platform "that resonates in Washington,'' he said.

As of Monday, Newtown United's Facebook page had more than 18,000 likes, and more than 6,000 followers.

First Selectman Pat Llodra said she appreciates the grassroots efforts of the new group. It speaks to the passion and commitment of the community, she said.

"It's democracy," she said.

James Belden, a former Legislative Council member, is part of the group; Cox declined to name the other three founders. In the coming weeks, Newtown United will unveil more about its organization and efforts, Cox said, but for now it still is in the formation phase.

"We want to provide a meaningful dialogue,'' Cox said. "If we stop one more of these events from happening, that would be the best memorial we could provide.''